TOKYO -- A 32-kilometer-wide strait between the Arabian Peninsula and the Horn of Africa has emerged as another potential chokepoint for Asia's energy trade after Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthis joined the Middle East conflict with a threat to block off the key shipping route.
Malaysia launches push to encourage local investors to buy stocks
KUALA LUMPUR -- Malaysia is making a fresh bid to expand its capital market, launching a five-year plan to raise the value of its listed companies and encourage more investors to trade actively.
Foxconn-Mitsubishi Fuso tie-up to export Japan-made electric buses
TOKYO -- Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus and Taiwan's Hon Hai Precision Industry, also known as Foxconn, plan to export large electric buses produced in Japan around 2030 to markets such as Southeast Asia and Australia.
KMT leader's China visit, key economic outlooks, RBI monetary policy
Welcome to Your Week in Asia.
Although geopolitical attention is focused on the Middle East, the Iran war and its impact on the Strait of Hormuz have further highlighted a vulnerability in another key waterway: the Taiwan Strait. Taipei has said it is planning to upgrade maritime security measures in the strait just as the island's main opposition leader prepares to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping, whose Communist Party has refused to rule out the use of force in its efforts to control what it sees as a rogue province.
From
Edo period rest stop remakes itself for 21st century globe-trotters
NAGANO, Japan -- A town that during Japan's Edo period (1603-1868) served as a stopover for Tokyo-Kyoto travelers now finds itself scrambling to accommodate a crush of modern-day wanderers seeking to spend a night or two in inns that exude a centuries-old charm.
Global plastic recycling stalls at under 10%
TOKYO -- Despite mounting concerns about the environmental impact, little progress has been made in recycling plastics, with less than 10% of annual production successfully recycled worldwide. The majority ends up burned or in landfills. Unrestrained use of these petrochemical materials adds fuel to global warming and adversely affects ecosystems and human health.
Toyota's Made in Japan plan might need foreign laborers to make 1 of 4 cars
NAGOYA, Japan -- Toyota Motor plans to build an auto plant in its hometown of Toyota, Aichi prefecture, in the 2030s, its first new factory in Japan since 2012.
Instant delivery is changing how Chinese shop
DALIAN, China -- As a 30-something woman in the northeastern Chinese city of Dalian headed to a dinner with friends, one of them casually mentioned in a group chat that it was their birthday.
Japan's corporate bond issuance hits record high on retail investors
TOKYO -- Corporate bond issuance in Japan reached a record high in the fiscal year ended March, rising 5% from the previous year to 15.8 trillion yen ($99 billion), according to industry data.
Japan miso maker's 'cultured umami essence' to hit US stores in summer
TOKYO -- Japanese miso company Hanamaruki Foods plans to begin retail sales of its flagship product, liquid shio koji, in the U.S., looking to tap demand a growing market for seasonings that can promote gut health.